Draft:Sarcophaga argyrostoma

Sarcophaga argyrostoma
Flesh fly
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Sarcophagidae
Genus:	Sarcophaga
Species:	S. argyrostoma
Binomial name
Sarcophaga argyrostoma

Sarcophaga Argyrostoma (Sar-co-phage-uh, ar-guy-ro-sto-ma) is a member of the flesh flies. Sarcophaga Argyrostoma is also known as the silver-faced flesh fly, of the Order Diptera, family Sarcophagidae.

As a member of the flesh flies, the species are known to consume flesh from living organisms or the decaying tissue post-mortem. The flies utilize the flesh tissue for feeding as well as suitable environments for proliferation/reproduction.

Habitat

Sarcophaga translates to 'meat eater', in which S. argyrostoma would typically inhabit necrotic tissue. Larvae of the species are detritovores (dead tissue). Although S. argyrostoma typically inhabit dead tissue, the larvae may also parasitize other invertebrates or decaying vegetable matter. Adult female flies also may deposit larvae, of the first instar, as opposed to eggs in suitable environments; the idea of this as opposed to decreased parental care of simply depositing eggs, is believed to give larvae a head start over other species of flies that deposit eggs in decaying tissue. Because of this reason, flesh flies are able to be utilized for forensic entomology due to the necrophagy of the species [[[Forensic entomology|Forensic Entomology]]]. The use of necrotic tissue seems to provide ideal environments for the Sarcophagid flies development.

Life cycle & development

Environmental effects

Varying environments can help to determine the efficacy of reproduction and development of flesh flies. The application of differing habitats (body tissue) can determine the rates of reproduction and/or the suitability of the environment on larval development. By studying these various flesh environments, the applications to forensic entomology can provide greater insight into criminal cases in which cadavers are involved.

In fresh liver at standard temperatures, S. argyrostoma are shown to have similar developmental processes to the common fly. Fresh liver may be seen as an ideal environment for development of Sarcophagid flies. In decayed liver (91-days & 840-days) no difference in observation, regardless of temperature. It appears that flies do not have bias in terms of environment. Within liver tissue, fresh and decayed showed no apparent difference in larval density in which flies can utilize regardless of decomposition of tissue. In addition to the environment effects on reproduction (in liver), temperature effects are added in addition to the fresh liver, S. argyrostoma exhibit an increase in larval density. By increasing temperature, temperature effects demonstrated greater efficacy for reproduction.

In contrast to the liver environment, both the environment and temperature effects did not effect the larval density between fly species. Diptera flies may not have preference of tissue on the development of fly larvae.

Temperature effects and development

Temperature effects may have significant effects on the development of this species of flesh-eating flies.

S. argyrostoma adult emergence times can vary and become delayed under fluctuating temperatures. It can be observed that under constant temperature conditions, the early stages of intrapuparial tend to develop faster than environments that tend to fluctuate. In contrast, the pupal-adult apolysis can be observed to be longer within the constant temperature group. With the crucial development of specific body regions (bristles on the cephalo-thorax region) until adult emergence, constant temperatures are known to be superior at this phase.

Development rate, if not fluctuating, determines that as temperatures increase so does the development and the ability to undergo instars becomes available. It appears that as temperatures increase upward to the 30^oC mark, the development of the species decreases.

Impact (disease)

Myiasis

Myiasis is defined as the parasitic infection via fly larvae inside of a living organism. The infection can occur from wounds, or due to damage to skin tissue from the mouth parts of the fly. Penetration of tissue, whether dead or alive, serves the purpose of reproduction in Sarcophagid flies as they do not differentiate between living and necrotic tissue.

Human impact

Other areas can be affected such as, cutaneous surfaces (accidental/traumatic wound or furuncular creeping), or cavitary (nasal, aural/ear, ophthalmic/eye, nasopharyngeal, gastrointestinal, urinogenital, and rectal). Myiasis can cause for severe outcomes and loss of use due to necrosis of healthy tissue.

Wound Myiasis

Cases for wound myiasis are within the category of 'nosocomial myiasis agents' and are typically found in wound myiasis affecting hospital patients. The usual patients that are affected are those who are immobilized, often elderly or poorly cared for individuals. Due to the prevalence at the site (hospital), flies are attracted to fresh, untreated and infected wounds and utilize this to lay eggs. This action tends to exacerbate wounds and create necrotic (dead) tissue.

Gastrointestinal

Symptoms associated with weakness, gastrointestinal pain, vomiting, cramps, fever, fatigue and weight loss; another symptoms is watery stool/diarrhea.

Due to the environment being alive, the environment tends to not be suitable, however, due to the presence of fly eggs in human excrement, the term of 'pseudomyiasis'. The most common method of transmission of fly eggs are typically due to contaminated food ingestion.

Ear

With myiasis of the ear, symptoms include pruritus (itching), serosanguineous discharge (blood and serum). These symptoms also vary based on the severity and degree of myiasis. Although uncommon, severe effects, such as hearing loss, can also occur due to the damage from an adult fly or due to larval development and consumption of tissue.

Other animal impacts

In cases where live animals are affected by myiasis, whether domestic or wild, are typically due to open wounds in conjunction with a lack of grooming. A potential symptom that can occur is decubitus ulcers (pressure ulcer), which, in humans, are commonly known as bedsores. These ulcers are localized soft tissue injuries due to prolonged exerted pressure(s). In animals, this can be due to being wounded and to avoid pain responses, choose to limit mobility. Another factor that can exacerbate myiasis in animals can be due to unhealthy lifestyles such as being overweight and sedentary.

Medication/treatment for disease impact

Immunomodulatory and antioxidants

The application for Sarcophaga may be also used for medical applications such as utilizing the species as a mediator for antioxidants and anti-inflammation for disease control. The utilization is through the haemolymph found in the larvae of S. argyrostoma; a study is performed with snails and schistosomiasis in which the presence of cytokines in inflammation and other pathological processes (like parasitic infection). Further investigation of the mitochondrial DNA can be utilized for additional application for forensic entomology. The DNA barcoding can assist in a catalogue for the species which may assist in the criminology.

Forensic Entomology

The use of Sarcophaga in forensic entomology is namely due to the species of fly that tends to inhabit indoor environments with dead necrotic tissue. Through the use of understanding each developmental stages and instars of the fly help to determine the mortality of a corpse post-mortem. This concept is analogous to the theories of co-evolution in which, one evolution coincides with another. To explain the developmental phases being directly associated with post-mortem time of death, it allows for greater insight on potential criminology applications. Such applications include the use of Sarcophaga can and have been used for the determination of forensic studies, especially for the use of criminal cases; due to the species of fly that tend to feed on human cadavers.

DNA barcoding

The application of DNA barcoding can be applied to criminology. DNA barcoding can be utilized to solve difficult cases when there is a lack of evidence. It can be used to determine the species of fly and their potential environments, which may create a link between the victim of a case and the accused. Through this application, along with the timeline of development of a specific fly species, we can establish a link or association between a potential individual and the victim. This process has been utilized for both major crimes, such as homicide, as well as minor cases that involve cleanliness.